MANILA, Philippines – The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) reported on Wednesday that almost 150 million passengers traveled through its trains in 2009, setting a new record for the most number of passengers in a single year.

LRTA Administrator Melquiades Robles said that a total of 149.44 million passengers used the Baclaran-Monumento Line (Line 1) in 2009, surpassing the old record of 145.83 million passengers set in 1994.

“With this all-time high, the LRT has established itself as the real alternative transportation in the metropolis for both the masses and the middle class. They have really learned to patronize the LRT systems. In fact, our ridership record remained high even during those times when fuel prices were low,” Robles said in a statement.

He attributed this increase in train ridership to “street-level congestion, volatile fuel prices, increasing environmental awareness, the fielding of more trains, continuously improving services, and affordable fare rates.”

Passenger bulk was noted during the Feast of the Black Nazarene last January 9, 2009, with 582, 989 passengers who took the Line trains on a single day.

This year, the LRTA is expecting another surge in its passenger volume once its North Extension Project begins its commercial run on February, Robles said.